Tool attaching maechanisms



May 29, 1956 M. H. FOX

TOOL ATTACHING MECHANISMS Filed Jan. 11, 1954 INVENTOR. MALCOLM ,4. FOX

A 7' Toe/v06 United States 1 mm TOOL ATTACHING MECHANISMS Malcolm H. Fo r, Seattle, Wash. Application January 11, 19 54, Serial No. 403,317

11 Claims. (Cl. 1 -'44.4

The present invention relates to mechanism for attaching a tool such as a mailer to a reciprocable driving device which may be in the form of a percussion instrument which is air-operated.

An object of the present invention is to provide tool attaching mechanism which is adapted to mount tools of various types on a percussion instrument such as a pneumatic hammer. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide attaching mechanism which can be mounted quickly and easily on a pneumatic hammer and removed from the hammer with equal facility, but which, while in place, will retain the tool so that it cannot be separated from the percussion instrument while having adequate range of movement .to be. driven by the pneumatic hammer.

A further object. is to provide such attaching mechanism which can :be disassembled readily for repair or replacement of any of the parts, yet such parts are strong so that replacement of them should not be required frequently.

Additional objects of the invention and advantages of the preferred construction shown in. the drawings will be pointed out in the following detailed description.

7 The nailer or other tool to be mounted on the driver incorporates a reciprocable rod having its end to be struck received in a sleeve which may be clamped to the driver. Such reciprocable rod is held substantially concentric with the sleeve by means such asa loose washer interengaged between the rod and sleeve, which washer is reciprocable lengthwise of the sleeve between stop means spaced lengthwise of the sleeve such as internal flanges secured in the sleeve. One of such flanges is slotted diametrically to enable such tool locating washer to be removed readily from the sleeve when the tool rod has been withdrawn from it.

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a pneumatic driving hammer and a nailer tool secured together by the attaching mechanism, parts being broken away to reveal internal structure.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a nailer tool and the attaching mechanism, illustrating the parts in exploded relationship.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tool attaching mechanism and incorporating a tool rod shown in side view.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end view of the attaching mechanism sleeve with such mechanism partially disassembled.

The pneumatic hammer 1 shown in Figure l is a conventional type of percussion driver and is represented for purposes of illustrating the manner in which my tool attaching mechanism is used. Such a pneumatic hammer has a casing in which a striker bar is housed, which is reciprccated lengthwise of the housing by air supplied through the air hose 11, and the access of the air to the casing 10 to reciprocate the striker bar is controlled by the trigger 12. When such a pneumatic hammer is used Patented May 29, 1956 The construction of the tool attaching mechanism of this invention eliminates the necessity of holding the tool rod by hand, which for purposes of illustration is shown as the reciprocable nailerrod 2. The working end of this rod is received in a nail holding sleeve 20 and such sleeve is positioned relative to the rod 2 by a spring 21 encircling the rod and having one end attached to a boss 22 on the rod, such as by the end of the spring being bent and inserted into a hole in such boss. The other end of that spring is secured to the sleeve 20 as by being screwed onto a thread on the end of such sleeve adjacent to the rod boss 22 in the manner shown in Figure 1. In relaxed position, therefore, the spring locates the sleeve 20 so that the working end of rod 2 is positioned generally centrally between the ends of the sleeve. 'This construction is the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,671,216.

The problem solved by the attaching mechanism of the present invention is that of holding the end 23 of the tool rod 2 to be struck within the aperture 13 of the driver 1, so that the tool and driver may be carried and manipulated as a unit by grasping the driver handle 14 and without the necessity of the operator touching the tool rod 2 after the tool has once been mounted on the driver, while the tool rod has adequate lengthwise free dom of movement forreciprocation when it is struck by the striker element of the driver 1. Since it will be desirable to utilize the driver forstriking tool rods of a variety of tools, attaching mechanism may be provided for each tool which can be secured to the casing 10 of the driver, or the same attaching mechanism can be used for a variety of tools by substituting one tool rod for another in the attaching mechanism.

The attaching mechanism shown in the drawings ineludes the sleeve 3 having a skirt 30 at one end of a size to fit over the casing 10 of the driver 1, and the other end of which receives the end portion 23 of the tool rod which is the portion to be struck. The skirt 30 has a slot or split 31' extending lengthwise of the sleeve and opening at the driver-receiving or skirtend. At opposite sides of such slot adjacent to the sleeve end are cars 32 having registering apertures receiving a bolt 33. Preterably one of these apertures is threaded so that the bolt may be screwed directly into it until its head presses firmly against the opposite face of the other ear. As the bolt is tightened the sleeve will be contracted by closing movement of slot 31 so that the skirt portion of the sleeve will be clamped tightly about the casing 10 of the driver. The sleeve may be removed readily, however, by loosening the bolt 33, whereupon the sleeve can be slid lengthwise off the driver casing.

When the attaching sleeve 3 is to be mounted on the casing 10 of the driver, it is desirable that the lengthwise relationship between the sleeve and driver be the same each time the attachment is thus applied. For this purpose a flange 34 is provided internally of the attaching mechanism sleeve which is located generally centrally between the sleeve ends. While such stop mechanism could be simply one or more pins or lugs for the purpose of locating the sleeve 3 lengthwise relative to the driver 1, such internal flange cooperates with another internal flange 35'adjacent to the end of the sleeve remote from its skirt 30 to define stops for limiting the reciprocation of the tool bar 2.

While the stop 35, like the stop 34, need not be a flange, it is convenient to form the stops as such flanges. Flange 34 may be formed as a ring slipped into one end of the sleeve 3 and secured in a transverse plane by Welds 36 formed by drilling holes in the sleeve at circumferentially spaced locations corresponding to the desired location of the internal flange 34 lengthwise of the sleeve and filling such holes with weld metal bonded to the flange ring. The flange 35 may be formed from two substantially semi-circular ring segments welded about their external peripheries to the end of sleeve 3 by the-seam welds 37. At diametrically'spaced locations the ends of such ring sections are spaced apart to leave notches or slots 38.

A washer 4 is placed in the sleeve 3 between stops 34 and 35 to guide rod 2 for reciprocation and to locate such rod substantially concentrically with the sleeve 3; The internal periphery of this washer is of a size to fit closely but loosely about the boss 22 of the tool rod 2. The exterior of this washer will be of a size slightly less than the internal size of sleeve 3 between stops 34 and 35 so that the washer can move freely between the stops, yet when the rod 2 is withdrawn from within the washer it can be tilted about a diameter into an axial plane of sleeve 3. In this position, when rotated to the proper position about the axis of the sleeve, the washer may be moved edgewise through notches 38 into or out of sleeve 3, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2 and in solid lines Figure 5.

Outward movement'of rod 2 relative to sleeve 3 when the end portion 23 of such rod is received within the sleeve is limited by engagement of projecting means on the side of such end portion, such as the ends of crosspin 40 extending diametrically through boss 22, with the inner side of washer 4, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. It will be evident that the washer 4 must be inserted into the sleeve 3 before the rod 2 is inserted within the washer. Also, since pin 40 prevents movement of the rod 2 out the end of sleeve 3 next to stop flange 35, such rod must be inserted into the sleeve through its skirt end. Further, it is clear that pin 40 cannot be inserted into the aperture in the boss 22 of rod 2 after the rod boss has been inserted into the sleeve. Consequently, stop 34 and pin 40 must be formed so that the pin can pass the stop. It is preferred, however, to form these parts so that the pin can pass the stop flange only when these two parts are properly oriented relative to each other.

It is only necessary that pin 40 be long enough to engage the inner face of washer 4, and consequently it could be shorter than the inner diameter of stop flange 34 to pass through such flange when the rod is centered within sleeve 3. If the pin and stop flange 34 are to be formed so that ordinarily the rod will not drop inadvertently'out of sleeve 3 when the parts have been disassembled to the condition of Figure 3, however, the internal flange may be formed so that the pin 40 will pass it only when the rod 2 is disposed in a predetermined rotative relationship to sleeve 3. For this purpose the pin 40 is made longer than the internal diameter of stop flange 3 and notches 39 are formed in diametrically opposite sides of the ring or flange. These notches are deep enough so that the space between their bottoms slightly exceeds the length of crosspin 40.

In order to install the tool rod 2 in the attaching mechanism, the washer 4 is first slipped edgewise through slots 38 in the stop flang 35, as shown in full lines in Figure 5 and in broken lines in Figure 2. When the washer has thus been inserted within the sleeve, it is swung through 90 degrees about a diameter parallel to the line of slots 38 into a plane perpendicular to the axis of sleeve 3. If notches 39 are deep enough, the washer might be inserted from the skirt end of the sleeve past stop flange 34, but it is easier to insert the washer'through stop flange 35, as described. In any event, after placing the washer in the sleeve, the tool rod 2 is inserted into the skirt end. of sleeve 3, working end first. The workingend of the rod is passed through the aperture'of washer 4 and its lengthwise. movement is continued until crosspin 40 reaches stop flange 34. The rod. 2 is then rotated onits axis as may be necessary until thecrosspin registers with the line of notches 39, as shown in Figure 4, whereupon the ends of such pin will pass through these notches so that the rod and sleeve will assume the longitudinal relationship shown in Figure 3.

With the rod 2 and sleeve 3 in the positions shown in Figure 3, it will be evident that the rod may be moved farther to the left, carrying washer 4 with it, to the broken line position. By this movement the hole adapted to receive an end of spring 21- will have passed beyond flange 35 so that spring 21 and sleeve 20 may he slid over the working end of the tool and the end of spring 21 inserted into its anchoring hole in boss 22. The attaching mechanism will then be ready for assembly on the driver by sliding the skirt 30 of sleeve 3 over the casing 10 and inserting the end 23 of the tool rod into the aperture 13 of the driver. When the stop flange 34 has been abutted with the end of the driver casing, screw 33 will be tightened to clamp the sleeve skirt onto the driver casing. The assembly will then beready for use, and the tool can be changed at any time by following in reverse the steps discussed above.

I claim as my invention:

1. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleevehaving one end engageable with a driver, internal-stop means carried by said sleeve between its ends and limiting movement of said sleeve onto said driver, means operable to secure such sleeve end to the driver, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeve with the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver-engageable end, and means interengageable between said rod and said internal stop means and operable to limit movement of said rod into said sleeve.

2. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleeve having one end engageable with a driver, means operable to secure such sleeve end to the driver, two inwardly projecting stop means in said sleeve at locations spaced lengthwise of said sleeve, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeve and freely floatably reciprocable therein with the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver engageable end, and means projecting from said rod between said spaced stop means and engageable with each of said stop means to limit movement of said rod respectively inwardly and outwardly of said sleeve.

3. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleeve having one end engageable with a driver, means operable to secure such sleeve end to the driver, a diametrically slotted internal stop flange in said sleeve at a location spaced lengthwise of the sleeve from the driver-engageable end of said sleeve, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeve and the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver-engageable end, said rod having means projecting from the side of its end portion received in said sleeve, and a washer encircling the end portion of said rod received in said sleeve, fitting slidably in said sleeve and engageable with said stop flange and said rod means projecting from said rod to limit movement of said rod outwardly of said sleeve, said washer being insertable into said sleeve through said slotted flange when disposed in an axial plane of said sleeve coinciding with the flange slots.

4. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleeve having one end engageable with a driver, means operable to secure such sleeve end to the driver, internal stop means carried by said sleeve at a location spaced lengthwise of the sleeve from the driverengageable end of said sleeve, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeveand the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver-engageable end, said rod having means projecting from the side of its end portion received in said sleeve,

and a washer encircling the end portion of said rod received in said sleeve, fitting slidably in said sleeve and engageable with said stop means and said rod means projecting from said rod to limit movement of said rod outwardly of said sleeve.

5. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleeve having one end engageable with a driver, means operable to secure such sleeve end to the driver, internal stop means carried by said sleeve at a location spaced lengthwise of the sleeve from the driver-engageable end of said sleeve, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeve with the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver-engageable end, a washer encircling the end portion of said rod received in said sleeve, fitting slidably in said sleeve and engageable with said stop means to limit movement of said washer away from the driver, and a crosspin projecting from the end portion of said rod received in said sleeve at a location between the driver-engageable end of said sleeve and said washer and engageable with said washer to limit movement of said rod relative to said washer in a direction away from the driver-engageable end of said sleeve.

6. Tool attaching mechanism for securing a tool rod to a driver, comprising a sleeve having one end engageable with a driver, two internal stop means carried by said sleeve at locations spaced lengthwise of said sleeve, one of said stop means being disposed for abutment with the end of the driver to limit movement of said sleeve onto the driver and the other stop means being disposed at the side of the driver-abutable stop means remote from the driver-engageable end of said sleeve, a tool rod having one end portion received in said sleeve with the remainder of said rod projecting beyond the end of said sleeve remote from its driver-engageable end, said rod having means projecting from the side of its end portion received in said sleeve, and a washer encircling the end portion of said rod received in said sleeve, fitting slidably in said sleeve between said stop means and engageable with said two stop means alternatively tolimit movement of said rod relative to said sleeve and engageable with said means projecting from said rod by movement of said rod in one direction to limit movement of said rod relative to said washer in such direction.

7. The tool attaching mechanism defined in claim 6, in which internal flanges constitute the internal stop means.

8. The tool attaching mechanism defined in claim 7, in which one of the flanges is slotted diametrically for passage of the washer edgewise through such flange slots 6 when the washer is disposed in an axial plane of the sleeve coinciding with the diametrical slots of such flange.

9. The tool attaching mechanism defined in claim 7, in which the internal stop flanges are arcuate and are welded to the sleeve.

10. Tool attaching mechanism for holding a tool rod to a driver comprising a sleeve having an internal stop flange disposed centrally thereof, a second internal stop flange located at one end of said sleeve and having diametrically opposite slots therein, a washer of a thickness and width to pass edgewise through said slots in said second stop flange in a direction lengthwise of said sleeve and swingable about a diameter in the plane of said second stop flange slots into a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve and disposed between said internal stop flanges, and a tool rod having a central portion adapted to fit loosely through the aperture of said washer and having a crosspin of a size to pass through saidcentral stop flange and to engage the face of said washer adjacent thereto.

11. Tool attaching mechanism for holding a tool rod to a driver comprising a sleeve having an internal stop flange disposed centrally thereof, a second internal stop flange located at one end of said sleeve and having diametrically opposite slots therein, a slot extending lengthwise of said sleeve and opening at the other end thereof, a washer of a thickness and width to pass edgewise through said slots in said second stop flange in a direction lengthwise of said sleeve and swingable about a diameter in the plane of said second stop flange slots into a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve and disposed between said internal stop flanges, a tool rod having a central portion adapted to fit loosely through the aperture of said washer and having a crosspin of a size to pass through said central stop flange and to engage the face of said washer adjacent thereto, apertured ears on the exterior of said sleeve adjacent to opposite sides of the open end of said lengthwise slot, and a bolt engageable in said ear apertures and operable to draw said ears toward each other to contract said lengthwise slot for clamping said sleeve on a driver.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,699,519 Brown Jan. 22, 1929 1,722,330 Hasty July 30, 1929 2,472,353 Sittert Jan. 7, 1949 2,543,942 Shaft Mar. 6, 1951 

